Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Australia

121 replies

Flute56 · 13/11/2024 04:54

I like Australia and have been three times. I like it because they speak English and I don't do well in countries where I don't speak the language and they cannot understand me. I recently went to Australia and really enjoyed it and I want to go again but what puts me of is the amount of money it costs and the time it takes to get there. I don't mind a long haul flights but the jet lag takes longer to get over each time I do it and someone said to me why don't I spend the same amount of money going to a different country and experiencing a new culture because even if I go to a different part of Australia each time the culture is still more or less the same so I'm not really benefiting and if I go to Europe I could have three times the amount of holidays then I could with one long hole to Australia because the amount of money that I spend going to Australia could give me three holidays to Europe indifferent countries experiencing a new culture each time like France or Germany or Spain so I just don't know if that's better or the time wasting my money to keep going to Australia

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 16/11/2024 09:06

even if I go to a different part of Australia each time the culture is still more or less the same

Not true. I live in Aus and well travelled here and it’s a big place and not a mono culture. At times I’ve been stunned by how different the culture is in different places. Also, one family trip here my kids couldn’t understand most people at all after a certain point and DH and I had to ‘translate’. They were basically speaking the Australian of the 70’s (still……), which is nothing like we now speak in major metro cities. We annoyed them by reverting to the local speak so they couldn’t understand us either🤣🤣🤣🤣

FrogsLoveRain · 16/11/2024 09:15

I have a great book by lonely planet. Big hardback book called "where to go when". Something like this may give you ideas of a country that piques your interest.

Once you've got that base idea you can then do some further research/ come on here and ask specific questions.

Vax · 16/11/2024 09:16

I don't fancy NZ at all, so I'm not going there Grin

Go where you like. Australia is massive. See it all if that's where you want to go.

Vax · 16/11/2024 09:19

@HoppingPavlova as a local would you recommend Whitsundays or Cairns for a week? We will be in Oz already. It's stinger season when we are there (March) which is putting me off Whitsundays a bit. Also can't decide on Airlie beach or Hamilton island. Too much choice!

HoppingPavlova · 16/11/2024 11:48

@vax, everywhere you have listed is stinger affected at that time. But, depends what you want to do, if you want to go snorkeling, see reef areas etc, then you just wear a stinger suit. They are really lightweight and cover hands but you can still use them (being your hands). Any company that you use to go out snorkeling/exploring should provide them included in the cost at that time of year.

If you are interested in that area, maybe some of the nicer areas around Port Douglas. Make sure you do Karunda, takes a day and do the rainforest sky car up and steam train back down, not the other way. Would also do Hartley’s crocodiles, and lots of trips out to the reef platforms or islands. Personally, I’d do a reef/island trip out every second day based somewhere like Douglas rather than staying somewhere like Hamilton. If you were not have a car (??) I think most reef companies will pick up from major hotels, but check that. I always have a car in those areas but pretty sure I’ve seen people bused in to reef transfer shops. Look at someone like Quicksilver. Make sure you make a day for Daintree proper as well, never ceases to amaze me.

I’m actually based in Sydney but do the reef and Daintree area every second/third year.

Have you looked at Kakadu/Katherine Gorge? If I were you, I’d look at splitting the time. Pretty sure there are flights over to Darwin from Cairns or Townsville. Then do a tour encompassing Kakadu and Katherine, back up through Litchfield. I wouldn’t hire a car though if you are not used to outback driving. Seriously, one night in Darwin either side of tour is more than enough as the only reason to be there is a sunset. A lot of people like Mindil beach for that purpose but I’d recommend a sunset cruise - do a fish and chip one not the expensive 3 course ones as the sunset doesn’t change🤣.

Parker231 · 16/11/2024 12:03

Flute56 · 13/11/2024 18:45

I have been to Italy Germany Spain France Scotland America Canada Australia New Zealand Greece poland Holland and slovakia

You mention having been to Canada but in reality you’ve only been to Banff and Calgary. For a huge country you’ve seen very little.

vegaspotty · 16/11/2024 12:21

Parker231 · 13/11/2024 19:48

No offence to the people of Toronto but for holidays I would suggest in the west - Vancouver and the island, Banff and Jasper. To the east, PEI and Nova Scotia (I love these islands). For cities you can’t go wrong with Montreal and Quebec.

I absolutely loved Vancouver and the islands .Would move there in a heartbeat!

Flute56 · 16/11/2024 12:25

Parker231 · 16/11/2024 12:03

You mention having been to Canada but in reality you’ve only been to Banff and Calgary. For a huge country you’ve seen very little.

And Toronto don't forget and yes I've seen very little because maybe that's down to the fact that it doesn't really interest me and I'm more interested in going to lots of different parts of Australia because Australia does interest me so you would never be able to say to me you've seen very little of Australia because I have been to Sydney I have been to Canberra Adelaide and perth and hopefully next year to brisbane

OP posts:
Parker231 · 16/11/2024 12:28

vegaspotty · 16/11/2024 12:21

I absolutely loved Vancouver and the islands .Would move there in a heartbeat!

And me! I’ve a former colleague we visit in Vancouver and another friend on the Island in Comex Valley. We live in Montreal but love visits to the west coast.

Parker231 · 16/11/2024 12:29

Flute56 · 16/11/2024 12:25

And Toronto don't forget and yes I've seen very little because maybe that's down to the fact that it doesn't really interest me and I'm more interested in going to lots of different parts of Australia because Australia does interest me so you would never be able to say to me you've seen very little of Australia because I have been to Sydney I have been to Canberra Adelaide and perth and hopefully next year to brisbane

What interests you about Australia- big differences across the country particularly places like Perth to Sydney.

MissMoneyFairy · 16/11/2024 12:31

Flute56 · 16/11/2024 12:25

And Toronto don't forget and yes I've seen very little because maybe that's down to the fact that it doesn't really interest me and I'm more interested in going to lots of different parts of Australia because Australia does interest me so you would never be able to say to me you've seen very little of Australia because I have been to Sydney I have been to Canberra Adelaide and perth and hopefully next year to brisbane

Have you been to Melbourne, been on the lovely train journey from Perth, visited the outback, australia is a vast country.

Flute56 · 16/11/2024 12:33

I did consider a coach tour where they take you all over Australia in three weeks but that is very expensive it's probably about 7,000 pounds however one single trip where are you have a flight and a hotel would probably cost about 4, thousand and you would just be staying in one place so for an extra three Thousand you can go to five or six different places starting at Sydney travelling through Western Australia and on to South Australia and then unto the Gold Coast so I don't know whether that was doing

OP posts:
Flute56 · 16/11/2024 12:35

MissMoneyFairy · 16/11/2024 12:31

Have you been to Melbourne, been on the lovely train journey from Perth, visited the outback, australia is a vast country.

I listed the places in Australia I have been to if I had been to Melbourne it would be on that list so why are you asking me if I've been to Melbourne if it's not on my list of places in Australia I have visited honestly I would have put it down if I'd be there

OP posts:
BuzzieLittleBee · 16/11/2024 12:36

Have you looked at how many hours you'd spend on a coach that took you 'all over' Australia?
Sydney to Melbourne is 9ish hours with no stopping!

But if you've been to Australia a lot, then you'd know this surely?

MissMoneyFairy · 16/11/2024 13:30

Flute56 · 16/11/2024 12:35

I listed the places in Australia I have been to if I had been to Melbourne it would be on that list so why are you asking me if I've been to Melbourne if it's not on my list of places in Australia I have visited honestly I would have put it down if I'd be there

Why are you so rude to everyone

Femalefootyfan · 16/11/2024 13:43

I’m really not sure why you’re asking for people’s thoughts on where you should go as you’re not open to anywhere other than going back to Australia, which is fine if you love it. I’ve been there 4 times and have visited several cities there and have loved each and every trip..
You’re being quite rude with your responses when people are going to the trouble of making suggestions to you.
I was going to suggest South Africa but I don’t think I’ll bother now as you’ll find a reason to not go.

DangerQuakeRhinoSnake · 16/11/2024 13:59

I think you should go to Brisbane next.

Ilikewinter · 16/11/2024 14:08

Wow, your down right bloody rude and quite honestly I don't know why anybody is bothering to help you.

Vax · 16/11/2024 14:13

HoppingPavlova · 16/11/2024 11:48

@vax, everywhere you have listed is stinger affected at that time. But, depends what you want to do, if you want to go snorkeling, see reef areas etc, then you just wear a stinger suit. They are really lightweight and cover hands but you can still use them (being your hands). Any company that you use to go out snorkeling/exploring should provide them included in the cost at that time of year.

If you are interested in that area, maybe some of the nicer areas around Port Douglas. Make sure you do Karunda, takes a day and do the rainforest sky car up and steam train back down, not the other way. Would also do Hartley’s crocodiles, and lots of trips out to the reef platforms or islands. Personally, I’d do a reef/island trip out every second day based somewhere like Douglas rather than staying somewhere like Hamilton. If you were not have a car (??) I think most reef companies will pick up from major hotels, but check that. I always have a car in those areas but pretty sure I’ve seen people bused in to reef transfer shops. Look at someone like Quicksilver. Make sure you make a day for Daintree proper as well, never ceases to amaze me.

I’m actually based in Sydney but do the reef and Daintree area every second/third year.

Have you looked at Kakadu/Katherine Gorge? If I were you, I’d look at splitting the time. Pretty sure there are flights over to Darwin from Cairns or Townsville. Then do a tour encompassing Kakadu and Katherine, back up through Litchfield. I wouldn’t hire a car though if you are not used to outback driving. Seriously, one night in Darwin either side of tour is more than enough as the only reason to be there is a sunset. A lot of people like Mindil beach for that purpose but I’d recommend a sunset cruise - do a fish and chip one not the expensive 3 course ones as the sunset doesn’t change🤣.

That's amazingly helpful thank you. We're starting and finishing in Sydney! Looks a great place to live.

Sorry for the thread hijack.

angryformoreadon · 16/11/2024 14:36

Can I just say that quicksilver reef trip was absolutely the worst thing we did in Australia. It was so expensive. It was super crowded we struggled to find any seats on the way out .

People swam off a platform but it was so crowded that all we could see was other people. The lunch was ok.
There was a submersible vehicle which was also ok but honestly I'd look into it carefully before you decide to do it.
There were far better trips to snorkel that we really enjoyed.

Parker231 · 16/11/2024 15:04

MissMoneyFairy · 16/11/2024 12:31

Have you been to Melbourne, been on the lovely train journey from Perth, visited the outback, australia is a vast country.

I love travel by train in other countries. In Australia we did the Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide going through Katherine, the red centre and Coober Pedy

Might look into the one you’ve mentioned for our next trip.

Itsrainingloadshere · 16/11/2024 15:23

I’m not sure the point of this thread. You’re saying you like Australia and don’t seem open to suggestions of anywhere else, discounting lovely places like NZ South Island as you’ve seen some pictures of it 🤔.
If you’ve been to the places you have listed and have discounted many other places, Canada not being ‘open for visitors 24/7’ , then I think you’d better stick with Australia.
You’ve also been rude to posters trying to help you. Your responses are so ridiculous I am wondering if this post is a wind up. Happy Travels.

MissMoneyFairy · 16/11/2024 15:27

Itsrainingloadshere · 16/11/2024 15:23

I’m not sure the point of this thread. You’re saying you like Australia and don’t seem open to suggestions of anywhere else, discounting lovely places like NZ South Island as you’ve seen some pictures of it 🤔.
If you’ve been to the places you have listed and have discounted many other places, Canada not being ‘open for visitors 24/7’ , then I think you’d better stick with Australia.
You’ve also been rude to posters trying to help you. Your responses are so ridiculous I am wondering if this post is a wind up. Happy Travels.

Maybe a wind up or a stealth post, we'll never know😂

Flute56 · 16/11/2024 16:00

It is not a wind up and I have a friend who only likes America and she goes year after year after year and she's been doing that for the last nine years and she doesn't go anywhere else

OP posts:
Flute56 · 16/11/2024 16:45

BuzzieLittleBee · 16/11/2024 12:36

Have you looked at how many hours you'd spend on a coach that took you 'all over' Australia?
Sydney to Melbourne is 9ish hours with no stopping!

But if you've been to Australia a lot, then you'd know this surely?

I should have made it clear you fly between the cities but then when you land at the city who get on a coach and you tore all over that city and then when you're ready to go to the next City you fly to the next City so you fly between each city

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread